| Re: Need Chloe's teeth cleaned, but....
I know that this is an old, old thread but here's my input, FWIW.
The best thing you can do for the between-teeth areas is to use a solution of Aquadent or a similar product. These are best started when the twwth are clean, either right after a dental or early in the dog's life and for his whole life.
These solutions reduce bacteria that contributes to plaque and tartar buildup. Tartar begins as plaque then hardens into calculus, which we call tartar. While we can clean plaque off teeth with a toothbrush, only a professional dental cleaning can remove hardened tartar.
I don't know of any doggie flossers, nor do I know of any dogs that would tolerate something going between their teeth, but I do know of a sealer that helps reduce the amount of junk that can get into the dental pockets and periodontal area. It's called Oravet, by Merial. It's a waxy sealer that your vet can apply initially during a dental cleaning and you can purchase a take-home kit to use once weekly for maintenance.
It's not the debris between the hard tooth surfaces that's the culprit-- it's the debris that collects under the gumline that causes periodontal disease with the tooth loosening that you described.
Hopefully by now you've had at least one cleaning for Chloe, and that you're keeping up with the brushing. Small dogs like Chloe are especially at risk for periodontal disease because their little jaws tend to be very crowded, so they need extra help to keep their pearly whites in good healthy condition.
Kudos on the brushing, and hope this info helps others with a similar question.
Stray Cat, RVT | 
